Devices and a seamless, single load, injection molded cavity preparation and filling technique

Abstract

There are disclosed methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of a tooth, and dental matrices, dental wedges, interdental matrix stabilizers, dental separator rings, dental curing light devices, and kits that can be used in the methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of a tooth.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for the restoration of a tooth having an original shape including a top surface and an interproximal surface, the method comprising:
 (a) removing a portion of the top surface of the tooth and a portion of the interproximal surface of the tooth to form a hollow Class II cavity preparation, the cavity preparation extending from the top surface to the interproximal surface of the tooth; 
 (b) surrounding the removed portion of the interproximal surface of the tooth with a matrix; 
 (c) placing a light-curable resin tooth bonding agent into the cavity preparation; 
 (d) injecting a light-curable flowable composite into the cavity preparation to create a pool of the flowable composite in the cavity preparation wherein the light-curable resin tooth bonding agent and the light-curable flowable composite are not cured at this step; 
 (e) after step (d), extruding a light-curable paste composite resin into the pool of the flowable composite before light curing the pool of the flowable composite thereby displacing some of the flowable composite; and 
 (f) simultaneously light curing the bonding agent and the flowable composite and the paste composite resin contained in the cavity preparation. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 step (c) further comprises first utilizing an acid etching step with liquid and/or gel phosphoric acid treatment, and then placing the bonding agent into the cavity preparation. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the bonding agent is self-etching. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein step (a) comprises:
 a pre-wedging step including inserting a wedge pre-operatively between the interproximal surface of the tooth being restored and an interproximal surface of a second tooth adjacent the tooth being restored to separate the tooth being restored and the second tooth and to protect non-diseased surfaces between the interproximal surface of the tooth being restored and the interproximal surface of the second tooth; 
 forming the cavity preparation; and 
 removing the wedge. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 step (b) further comprises positioning a translucent elastic matrix stabilizer in contact with the matrix to maintain contact of the matrix with the tooth being restored and/or to create separation of the teeth. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein:
 step (b) further comprises positioning a separator ring with a transparent and anatomic interproximal zone in contact with the matrix stabilizer and matrix to create separation between the interproximal surface of the tooth being restored and an interproximal surface of a second tooth adjacent the tooth being restored. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 step (f) comprises directing light at the top surface of the tooth, directing light at a buccal portion of the interproximal surface of the tooth, and directing light at a lingual portion of the interproximal surface of the tooth. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 step (f) comprises simultaneously directing light at the top surface of the tooth, at a buccal portion of the interproximal surface of the tooth, and at a lingual portion of the interproximal surface of the tooth. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 step (f) comprises directing light at the top surface of the tooth, and then thereafter simultaneously directing light at a buccal portion and a lingual portion of the interproximal surface of the tooth. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hollow cavity preparation is saucer shaped. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein:
 the cavity preparation does not extend inward more than two millimeters from a projected external interproximal filling surface of the tooth. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the matrix is translucent. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the matrix is anatomically shaped. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the matrix is tooth specific. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the matrix is tooth type specific. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the matrix is tooth surface specific. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 further flowable composite and/or paste composite resin are not added after step (e) such that the method produces a single cured layer load and layer of flowable composite and paste composite resin. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the light cured flowable composite and paste composite resin contained in the cavity preparation are seamless. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the light cured flowable composite and paste composite resin contained in the cavity preparation are injection molded. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the light cured flowable composite and paste composite resin contained in the cavity preparation are not layered. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 step (f) comprises directing light from a first light guide at a buccal portion of the interproximal surface of the tooth, and directing light from a second light guide at a lingual portion of the interproximal surface of the tooth, wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are hinged at a curing light housing. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hollow cavity preparation is saucer shaped and in an occlusal view has a first serpentine outline from a first cavity margin to an intermediate point of the cavity preparation and has a second serpentine outline from a second cavity margin to the intermediate point of the cavity preparation. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hollow cavity preparation is saucer shaped and in a gingival view has a first serpentine outline from a first cavity margin to an intermediate point of the cavity preparation and has a second serpentine outline from a second cavity margin to the intermediate point of the cavity preparation. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hollow cavity preparation is saucer shaped and in a buccal view has a first serpentine outline from a first cavity margin to an intermediate point of the cavity preparation and has a second serpentine outline from a second cavity margin to the intermediate point of the cavity preparation. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hollow cavity preparation is saucer shaped and in a lingual view has a first serpentine outline from a first cavity margin to an intermediate point of the cavity preparation and has a second serpentine outline from a second cavity margin to the intermediate point of the cavity preparation. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hollow cavity preparation is saucer shaped in an occlusal view and/or buccal view, and/or lingual view, and/or gingival view. 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 step (d) does not use a chemically cured resin. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the method does not use a chemically cured resin.